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Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland

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Chapter 2<br />

New Testament Justification<br />

by Faith: <strong>the</strong> K<strong>in</strong>d That Works<br />

I was glad to tell Magara that God's<br />

justification is to a s<strong>in</strong>-sick soul (and that <strong>in</strong>cludes<br />

all of us!) what a refresh<strong>in</strong>g, cleans<strong>in</strong>g bath is to<br />

<strong>the</strong> body. It is <strong>the</strong> answer to <strong>the</strong> deep-felt long<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of <strong>the</strong> human heart to be straightened out, to be put<br />

right with God and with His universe. To be out of<br />

kilter with all that is pure, right, and just is a<br />

terrible feel<strong>in</strong>g. We call it guilt. Guilt destroys<br />

peace and hope. We need relief.<br />

Justification may sound like a big, mysterious<br />

word, someth<strong>in</strong>g that lawyers and <strong>the</strong>ologians talk<br />

about <strong>in</strong> dry, dusty books. But Magara soon<br />

discovered that <strong>the</strong> Bible idea of justification is as<br />

clear as sunlight. The Today's English Version<br />

aptly translates <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al word for justify as<br />

simply be<strong>in</strong>g "put right with God." Romans 5:1.<br />

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